A system and method for providing a coating on a self-expandable medical device such as a stent are disclosed. The system comprises a coating applicator at the distal end of a sheath which delivers coating material onto the stent as the stent is deployed from the sheath. Thus, the stent may be loaded into the sheath without a coating on the stent, thereby avoiding shearing off or damaging the coating during loading. Also, the coating is applied only as the stent exits the sheath, thereby avoiding shearing off or damaging the coating during deployment.